Oil gauge



March 3, 1936- J. HALTENBERGER OIL GAUGE Filed April 18, 1934 I N VEN TOR.

- Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PATENT OFFICE om GAUGE Jules Haltenberger, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application April 18, 1934, Serial No. 721,127

2 Claims.

The invention forming the subject matter of the present application relates to an oil level gauge and more particularly to a dip-gauge of an automobile engine usually carried in the crankcase.

It is the object of my invention to provide a permanent magnetic tip on an oil level dip-gauge that needs to be wiped oil and reinserted into the oil level before reading.

jects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawmg:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental front elevation of an automobile engine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental plan view of the oil pan 29 illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a modification of the clip-gauge illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the gauge illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a further modification of the dip-gauge illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental front elevation of an automobile transmission containing a dip-gauge;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of an automobile rear 30 axle housing containing a dip-gauge;

Referring more particularly to the drawing and specifically to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that I have illustrated therein an automobile engine generally at In comprising a cylinder block H with its integral crankcase l2, said crankcase forming a generally oil tight chamber l3. This chamber contains the usual crankshaft i4 and its associated parts. Chamber l3 contains a filling tube |5 positioned at one side and preferably between two associated cheeks of crankshaft M to clear said shaft without interference. Filling tube 5 is integral with crankcase l2 and joins and pierces crankcase barrel 20, protruding therefrom to form neck 2|. The bottom end of filling tube I5 is connected to crankcase rib 22.

The bottom of crankcase 2 is covered by oil pan containing oil tray 26, oil pump 21 and oil pump bell 28.

Neck 2| on filling tube I5 is closed by a tubular pilot provided with breathing holes 3|. To the pilot as by rivet 32 is connected breather housing 33 provided with breathing holes 34. This housing is preferably filled with metal wool 35.

Rivet 32 also holds a strip metal reaching Further and more particularly expressed 011- through filling tube |5 into oil pan 25. At the bottom end of a strip metal 40 is attached as by a rivet a permanent magnet 4| submerged or dipping into the engine oil in oil pan 25. The two magnet prongs 4| are marked to indicate the height of oil level in said pan.

Pilot 30, breather-housing 33, strip metal 40 and magnet 4| form the principal parts of a removable unit that is normally positioned in the oil filling tube where it also serves as the crankcase breather. Said unit must be pulled out for the replenishment of the crankcase oil and at removal it serves as the oil dip-gauge. Magnet 4| will attract and hold the steel and iron particles suspended in the crankcase oil, these particles covering the surfaces of the magnet and obliterating the oil level height marking. When pulled out for oil level reading it will have to be wiped off and reinserted and againremoved ior reading-a routine procedure in all filling stations. By providing, however, a magnet on the oil gauge the gas station has to remove the collected iron and steel particles, thereby helping Y to clean the oil in the crankcase while performing a daily routine procedure.

To guide most of the oil in proximity of the magnet 4| I provide two walls 45 in oil pan 25 and as is clear from Fig. 2 these walls are placed at each side of the oil pump bell 28. These walls are shorter than the width of the oil pan, leaving a gap to communicate with the fore and aft part of oil pan 25. Substantially all the oil will pass between the two walls and will be continually cleaned by magnet 4|. I

Figs. 3 and i illustrate a magnetic dip-gauge 56 of inexpensive and simple construction to serve as a replacement for a present day non-magnetic gauge. Here magnetic prongs 5| and 52 are connected at their upper end. They pass through a pair of stampings 52 and 53 held together as by a spinning process that serve as a stem to be inserted in the usual crank-case dip-gauge opening. Prongs 5| and 52 at their lower end are clipped together by brass clip 55 which may contain the usual Full marking.

Fig. 5 illustrates a dip-gauge head in which the two magnetic prongs 6| and 62 are first knurled and then driven in drilled holes in said head.

Fig. 6 illustrates a transmission housing carrying oil level plug H and oil filler plug -12. I provide the filling plug 12 with magnetic dipgauge prongs 73 for the purpose, as abovejdescribed, that at eachtransmission oil replenishment it will be in a sense compulsory for the replenisher to remove the steel and iron particles and chips. When using a dip-gauge the oil level plug II can be dispensed with. A dip-gauge is less expensive than a drilled and tapped hole in a casing and avoids the use of a screwplug and screwplug gasket.

Fig. '7 illustrates a rear axle banjo housing 80, differential carrier 8|, oil level overflow plug 83, differential cover 84, oil filling plug 85, and magnetic prongs 86, for the purpose described above. Here, however, the location of overflow plug is of great importance. It is placed for the axle housing to containthe greatest amount of lubricant whileholding the lubricant level below the axle shaft centerline to reduce the danger of oil leakage to the brakes. When an old axle housing starts to leak oil and foul the brakes, oil should be replenished to a new lower safe level,

easily readable by a dip-gauge, whereas an overflow plug can indicate at best but one single level that may, after wear and usage, prove too high. This is a particular reason for using a dip-gauge for rear axle housings.

I claim as my invention: 1

1. An ullage rod comprising an elongated body for insertion into a motor crankcase the free end of the body being provided with a magnetic portion adapted to be immersed into a liquid in the crankcase.

2. An ullage rod comprising an elongated body for insertion into a case containing lubricant for moving parts, the free end of the body being provided with a magnetic portion adapted to be immersed into said lubricant in said case.

JULES HALTENBERGER. 

